Calais Migrant Crisis: 'Songs Of Praise' Special Edition To Be Broadcast From 'Jungle' Camp

The BBC's decision to film a special edition of 'Songs Of Praise' from Calais' biggest migrant camp has inflamed opinions, with critics branding the move "insensitive" while others say it could help humanise the crisis.

Crews for the TV programme have been filming at a church in the so-called 'Jungle', a sprawling encampment home to thousands hoping to reach Britain.

Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, told The Sun on Thursday: "This is an insensitive thing to do. We are facing a grave crisis.

"The BBC should be careful not to start looking as if they are making political points out of this."

Others against the idea took to Twitter to voice their disquiet.

BBC to broadcast Songs of Praise from migrant camp in Calais the sooner this waste of public money is scrapped the better

A BBC spokeswoman said the programme, which has run for over fifty years, brought hymns from churches around the UK and short topical magazine features of interest to Christians "from a range of places".

Giles Fraser, a former St Paul's Cathedral cannon who is also involved in the contentious episode, posted pictures of some scenes the production team had encountered in their pursuit of filming the new episode.

The decision to film 'Songs of Praise' from Calais comes amid an unprecedented surge in migrants attempting to cross the Channel and enter Britain.

A former British ambassador to France has warned there is no "magic solution" to current migrant crisis, and said the issues should be seen in the context of an overall surge in migration into Europe.

Sir John Holmes, who held the post between 2001 and 2007, said: "Although it's a very difficult problem and causes a lot of obstacles and complications, it is a relatively small part of a much bigger problem which is the number of people trying to get illegally into Europe from the Middle East and North Africa."